Earl A. Forte, beloved husband, father, and grandfather passed away peacefully on April 24, 2019 in Longmont, Colorado. He was born on August 4, 1933 in Bellville, Illinois to the late Howard Wendell Forte and Edith Edna (Ashpole) Forte.
Earl grew up and attended schools in Affton, Missouri, graduating from Affton High in 1951. After graduation, he was offered a scholarship to play basketball at North East Missouri State University in Kirksville, Missouri. Though tuition and books were covered by the scholarship, no lodging or weekend meals were included. Unable to support the additional costs of college, he joined the Army in March 1952. The Army selected Earl for additional training and he was assigned to the 13th Engineering Combat Battalion, 7th Division. This unit was usually in front of the front lines building roads, bridges and fortifications for use by the infantry as they advanced. In his brief two years of service, Earl was awarded the Korean Service Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars; United Nations Service Medal and The National Defense Service Medal. Earl was released from active military service in March 1954 at Ft. Carson, Colorado with the rank of Sargeant First Class.
Earl met Judy, his wife of 64 years, in High School in the late 1940’s. However, it was not until after Earl’s service in the Army that they had their first date, attending the wedding of their close friends Lois and Raul Laudenslager. Earl and Judy were married in Affton, Missouri on April 16, 1955. They welcomed their daughter Julie into the world in August 1958 followed by their son Brad in 1962.
After the Army Earl began cutting slipcovers at Lauden Drapery and Slip Cover Company owned by the Laudenslager family in St. Louis. Paid on piece work, Earl worked to developed more efficient techniques for cutting, thereby improving his piece work pay.
In 1956 he joined Combined Insurance Company of America where he developed his sales skills. In the years ahead, he earned promotions, and was moved to the home office in Chicago in 1967. Earl was recognized as an outstanding manager, motivational speaker and ultimately advanced to the role of Senior Vice-President and National Sales Manager of the Accident & Health Division of the company. During his tenure, Earl developed many new insurance products and incentive sales programs for which he became revered by his salesforce, other senior executives and his boss, W. Clement Stone.
One such program, “String of Pearls” was a challenge for salesman to sell 100 policies in one week and sustain that level for 5, 10 or 20 consecutive weeks. By stringing 5 weeks together the salesman’s wife would receive a beautiful pearl ring; 10 weeks, a pearl necklace and 20 weeks a double strand pearl necklace. The program was a great success, bringing new levels of personal income to the salesmen and improved performance to the company.
In 1978, Earl joined the Board of Directors of The National Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse in Chicago, Illinois (now Prevent Child Abuse America). He remained active on the Board until 1995. During that time the organization expanded out of Illinois with other state chapters and partnered with Marvel Comics to release a Spider-Man comic book, the first in a series to help educate children about child abuse. In 1986, the Committee established the National Center on Child Abuse Prevention which conducted and published the first 50 state survey of child abuse and neglect in 1987. Earl remained involved until the mid 1990’s.
Earl left Combined Insurance Company in 1981, consulting with other insurance companies and the W. Clement Stone Family. He continued to pursue a variety of business interests with his former colleagues in the 1980’s and 1990’s. Throughout his years at Combined Insurance, Earl and Judy had enjoyed countless weekends and vacations with their family on Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. After retiring from Combined, they purchased a home on the lake, allowing many more opportunities for boating and relaxing with friends and family.
Their love of endless days on the water led Earl and Judy to purchase waterfront property and move to Ft. Myers Florida in 1990.
Earl was an accomplished woodworker and proficient modelmaker of particularly intricate models of classic automobiles. He built several grandfather clocks. He was proficient in a wide variety of trades including, masonry, plumbing, welding and electrical work – he was known as the guy who could fix or build anything. Earl repaired almost anything for his neighbors, made doll houses for his grand-daughters and bird feeders with his grandson. Earl was also a master gardener, a talented sculptor and took up painting in his later years. Earl loved to learn and engaged in taking a variety of educational courses, including master gardening, boating safety and the Lee County, Florida Citizens Police Academy. Earl was a veracious reader, reading more than 600 books in one 10-year period. His interests included biographies of important people in America’s history, legal thrillers and international spy novels.
After moving to Ft. Myers, Earl and Judy joined the St. Charles Yacht Club. In 1995, the developer of the club and its surrounding residential community ran into financial difficulties. Earl conceived of a plan and led the effort to save the Yacht Club and its harbor from bankruptcy and foreclosure. He did so on behalf of the members. The settlement Earl negotiated allowed for financial stability and membership levels were restored to sustainable levels. After serving on the Board of Directors for 5 years, in 2000 he was elected Commodore of St. Charles Yacht Club.
Family and friends were very important in his life. He and Judy enjoyed boating with friends, taking trips to the east side of Florida and the Bahama’s. They were both deeply involved in the lives of their grand-children, frequently hosting them in Florida or making visits to Colorado. In 2006 they moved to Niwot, Colorado to be closer to family.
Earl is survived by his loving wife, Judy Forte of Simpsonville, SC; his devoted daughter, Julie Grubb and son-in-law Robert Grubb of Niwot, CO.; and beloved grandchildren, Kristen (Veric) Nichols of Erie, CO.; Nicole (Branin) Newman of Littleton CO. and Kenneth Grubb of Aurora, CO.; and his devoted and loyal canine companion, Freckles as well as many wonderful friends. He is also survived by his brother Lowell Forte of Cupertino, CA. and his sister Evalyne Pilchard of Iowa Falls, IA.
In addition to his parents, Earl was preceded in death by his beloved sister Shirley Lehr, her husband Glenn and their young son Keith in 1956. He was also preceded by his son Bradford Garrett Forte in 1985.
Earl’s family is very grateful to the many caregivers who provided care, comfort, and encouragement to Earl since he suffered a stroke in November of 2014.
A memorial celebration will take place:
When-
Sunday, June 9th, 2019, beginning at 3:00.
A brief service will begin at 3:30, sharing of stories to follow. Please join our family from 3:00 to 5:00pm
Where-
The home of Bob and Julie Grubb
8576 Niwot Meadow Farm Road
Niwot, CO. 80503
303-652-2699
A private burial will take place with family in St. Louis Missouri later in the summer.
Memorial contributions may be made to:
Rocky Mountain Christian Church
9447 Niwot Road
Niwot, CO. 80503
303-652-2211
The Longmont Humane Society
9595 Nelson Road
Longmont, CO. 80501
303-772-1232
https://www.longmonthumane.org/
Please visit howemortuary.com to share personal condolences.
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